California Wedding Laws - How to Become an Ordained Minister in California

It only takes an internet connection and a couple of minutes to become recognized as a legally ordained minister capable of performing wedding ceremonies in California. Read below to find out how.

Preparing to Perform Marriages in California

1. Acquiring an online ordination through the Universal Life Church Monastery authorizes men and women from across the world to perform legally-recognized wedding ceremonies and solemnize marriages in 47 US states.
2. It is preferred that ULC ministers have and occasionally visit a profile on our church’s social network, the “Ministers Network”, as it allows us to keep in contact with them. Our members must also keep their information up to date in our records. They can do so by contacting us with their updated names, addresses, and e-mail addresses once they have changed and the ULC staff will update them accordingly.
3. All Universal Life Church Monastery ministers qualify to perform marriages in California, but they may or may not need some form(s) of ministerial documentation or identification to file for a marriage license there after the wedding has been performed. When preparing to officiate a wedding in California, always make sure to contact the county clerk of the county where the wedding is to take place and inquire about what documents ULC ministers need to present in order to legally file a marriage license.
4. Make sure that you research and adhere to California’s standards related to performing weddings. Some states have stringent requirements which, if not followed, may nullify the marriage. These can include a code of conduct, dress requirements, or mandatory statements to be made during the ceremony regarding California’s role in solemnizing the marriage.

Looking for advice on officiating wedding ceremonies in California? Many of the 20,000 active members on the Ministers Network would be delighted to assist you. The ULC has ordained thousands of people from California, so you are virtually guaranteed to find someone there with practical experience you can learn from.

Tips, guides, and other educational materials concerning preparing online-ordained ministers for the rigors of wedding officiating can be found in the “Training” section.

The following is from California's FAQ page:

Where do I register to perform marriages in California? The laws of the State of California make it unnecessary for persons performing marriages to file credentials with the clerk of the court or with anyone else. The county and state are removed from any responsibility for verification of credentials. The State does not maintain a central registry of members of the clergy. Any such concern for verification is totally at the discretion of the parties to the marriage. (The Universal Life Church Monastery still recommends that you check with the county clerk where the ceremony will be held.)

What authorization do I need to perform a marriage in California? In California, it is the ordination or investment by the denomination that gives each clergy member the authority to perform the marriage rite. Family Code, Sections 400-402 are the statutes pertaining to whom can solemnize a marriage in California.

The following is from California Family Code sections:

400. Marriage may be solemnized by any of the following who is of the age of 18 years or older:

420. A priest, minister, or rabbi of any religious denomination. No particular form for the ceremony of marriage is required for solemnization of the marriage, but the parties shall declare, in the presence of the person solemnizing the marriage and necessary witnesses, that they take each other as husband and wife.

421. Before solemnizing a marriage, the person solemnizing the marriage shall require the presentation of the marriage license. If the person solemnizing the marriage has reason to doubt the correctness of the statement of facts in the marriage license, the person must be satisfied as to the correctness of the statement of facts before solemnizing the marriage. For this purpose, the person may administer oaths and examine the parties and witnesses in the same manner as the county clerk does before issuing the license.

422. The person solemnizing a marriage shall make, sign, and endorse upon or attach to the marriage license a statement, in the form prescribed by the State Department of Health Services, showing all of the following: (a) The fact, date (month, day, year), and place (city and county) of solemnization. (b) The names and places of residence of one or more witnesses to the ceremony. (c) The official position of the person solemnizing the marriage, or of the denomination of which that person is a priest, minister, rabbi, or member of the clergy. (d) The person solemnizing the marriage shall also type or print the person's name and address.

423. The person solemnizing the marriage shall return the marriage license, endorsed as required in Section 422, to the county recorder of the county in which the license was issued within 10 days after the ceremony.

424. At the request of, and for, either party to a marriage, the person solemnizing the marriage shall issue a marriage certificate showing the facts specified in Section 422.

Please note that, when filling out a marriage license, the State requests that you use the title "Minister" or "Reverend", and not "Officiant", in Box #29D.

The County Clerks also require that you enter your denomination, "Universal Life Church", in box #29B. Failing to state a denomination results in a rejection, and requires a duplicated marriage license.

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To perform a marriage in California you need to be ordained and may be required to provide proof of ordination such as an ordination credential, wallet credential, or a letter of good standing from the church.